Coding and decoding device



J. P. GRIFFITHS.

CODING AND DECODING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1921.

1 359 559 Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

at QFFICE.

JATKESEAUL GRIFFITHS, 0F DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA.

CODING AND DECODING DEVICE.

naeasse.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented ring n -ii,

Application filed. March 19, 1921. Serial No. 453,744.

To all whom it may concern.

lie it known that I, Jlxnrns PAUL Garrrrrrrs. a subject of the King of Great Britain. residing in Durban, South Africa.- have invented certain newand useful Improvements in a Coding and DecodingDevice. (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain dated December 24, 1919, Se rial No. 32,418) of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a coding and decoding: device in which according to the in vention the characters are arranged in two rows. and two hands adjustably set to indicate at the same time, respectively, a character of each row at any required spacing apart are adapted to be moved together over the rows. The two rowscan be relatively displaced and the order of blocks marked with the characters can be changed as required in each row.

In a preferred form the device comprises asmall portable and easily handled mechanism, in the former, and approximately of the.usualdimensions of, a watch, on the front of which there are two hands which can be set at any required angular position apart and which can be readily placed on posits to numerals and letters arranged in two concentric ringsl When one hand is set to any numeral or-letter of one ring the other hand points to the corresponding letter or numeral of the code.

By changing the angularspacing of the hands a large number of different codes can be quickly obtained. One. of the corn centric rings can be rotated relatively to the other ring and arrangements are also provided by which the order of any of the letters or numerals in the two rings can be altered, so that a ber of different codes can be readily formed and the messages rapidly decoded.

Each correspondent is provided with a similar instrument.

The accompanying drawing represents an example of a coding device according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a section and F ig. 2 a plan with parts of the cover removed. Figs. 3 and 4c are sections, respectively, on the lines III-III and IV-IV of Fig. 1. V

1 is the circular case of the instrument, 2 a. metallic bezel, 3 a glass cover, 4: an annular plate secured to the case, 5 a central disk, the lower flange 6 of which lies in the upturned flanges 17 the spindle 29 to which the practically unlimited num-v same horizontal plane as the plate 1. Numbered or lettered blocks 7 are arranged in two concentric rows in partitioned spaces 8 and 9 termed in the plate 4 and disk 5 by radial'ribs 10. and 11. The blocks 7 are also slightly wedge shaped both in plan as shown in Fig. 2 and in elevation as shown in Figs. 3and 4. so as to be held securely when slipped into their appropriate places. The blocks of the outer row-rest against a circular rib or flange 12 and the blocks of the inner row against the vertical flange 13 of the inner disk Circular channels 14 and 15 are provided in the plate t in which any blocks can be temporarily placed when it is desired to alter the order of the blocks in either row.

In order to merit of the placed in prevent any possible displaceblocks after they have been position, a ring 16 is provided with adapted to bear, when slightly lifted by screws 18, against the be"- torn surfacesot the blocks. Three screws 18 are threaded in the example shown into bosses provided in the base of the case. p

The disk 5 can be rotated bymeans 01" a toothed rack 19. adapted to engage with a pinion 20 sure of a spring 22 toward the right. The spindle 21 is rotated by means ofa' knurled knob 23. In its normal position the knob 23 serves to rotate a pair of bevel wheels 24 and 25 and with them indicating hands 26 and 270i which the longer hand 26 points to a block on the outer row 9 and the shorter hand 27 to a corresponding block on the inner row 8.

A bracket 28 secured to the case supports indicating hands are attached. The spindle 21 is supported in a bearing 80 also secured to the case. The bevel wheel 25 and with it the hands 26 and 27 are held in the positions set by a detent 31, which slides outward to release the hands against the retaining pressure of a spring 32 when one arm 33 of a small pivoted lever 34 is pressed inward. The detent and its releasing means can be placed in any convenient position and are shown in Fig. 2 near to the knob 23. i

In order that the angular distance apart of the hands may be readily altered, in the example shown the spindle 29 is formed with a square cross section on which the correspondingly formed end of the hand 27 fits; the

when a spindle 21 to which they pinion is secured is pulled against the presspindle 29 and is locked by a nut Having thus described the nature of the in saids'pac'e's,

' for moving i said hand 26iii ts over a circular portion of the said inventionand the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effeca l' character, bearing blocks fitting in saidspaces, a spindle and claim: Y a r 1. A coding and decoding device comprising in combination a circular case, an annulair plate secured within said case and hav ing a rowof partitioned spaces, a-central disk, having a row 01'': partitioned spacestarranged concentrically with the spaces in said plate, characterbearing blocks fitting said plate having a circular channel surrounding each row'of partitionec I spaces "into which channels any of said blocks may be slidl temporarily for the purpose of changing the ordinary arrangement of the iblo cks,'means for preventing displacement of said blocks, av spindle and supports therefor mounted in said case, indicating pointers secured to said spindle, means 7 pointers simultaneously over said blocks "and means for altering the angular distance apart of said pointers.

2. A coding and decoding device comprising in combinationa'circular case, an annu- 'lar plate secured Wltlllll' said case and havscrews threaded into the base of said case and engaging with said r ng, a spindle and ing a, row of partitioned spaces, a central disk, having a row oflpartitioned spaces concentric with the row of" spaces in said disk, character bearing blocks fitting in said spaces, a ring located below said partitioned spaces and'having upturned flanges adapted to bear against'the bottoms of said blocks,

supports' therefor mounted in said case, indicating po nters secured to said spindle,-

means for moving said pointers simultaneously over-said blocks and means for altering' the 1 angular distance apart ofsaid v name to this s ecification.) 7 I m JAMES PAUL GRIFFITHS. H

-pointers.

ingin combination a circular case, an annu- "1341 plate secured withinfsaid case and hava central 'ing arow ofpartitioned spaces,

d1sk,'having arowj of 'partlt -oned spaces consupports therefor flnOllntet l insaid-case, indicatingvpointers'secured to said spindle,

lar plate secured within said case,ga 'cen-V tral spindle mounted in said"case',-a central means for moving said pointers simultaneously over. said: blocks, .7

disk, saidplate and said disk having com- 7' plemental' concentric rows of partitioned spaces, character bearing blocks' fitting in a said spaces,ia rod mounted said'case, meansliexternal to said case forrotating'said rod, a pinion Jon-said rod, and a toothed 1 -wheel on s'aid central spindle engaging with said pinion.

5. A'coding, ing in combination a circular case, an annular plate secured within said caseyfa central spindle'mounted in said case, a c'entral disk, said plate and said diskhaving' com- .75

plem'ental' concentric rows of partitioned spaces, character bearing blocks fitting in said spaces, a rodinounted in said case so as to slide axially, means "external'to said case for rotating said'rod, a pinion on said rod, a toothed wheel on. said central spindle engaging with'said pinion in one axial position of the rod, a rack on'said central disk,

a second pinion on said rod engaging in another axial position of the rod with said rack, I

i111 testimony whereof Ihave'signed my and decoding device c'ompris- 

